iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 229 Family, Responsibility, Honor

The sky was slightly bright, and Catelyn Tully walked out of the dark and cold dormitory.

Lady Catelyn tightened her cloak about her body, and awoke from her sweet sleep, where she saw her husband and children.

The children's laughter still lingered in her ears, but it became more and more blurry as she gradually woke up. No matter how hard she tried, she could not keep that trace of sweetness.

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Walking in the gardens of the Eyrie, Lady Catelyn thought back to her failed "prison escape" experience last night.

Although she is a lady of the Tully family, she is also the wife of Running Wolf, so naturally she will not sit still and wait for death.

The guards in the Eagle's Nest City were not strict, or the guards here did not regard her as a prisoner. After a period of observation, Caitlin quickly figured out the rules of soldiers' vigils and patrols, plus the information she got from the innocent maid... Last night, she carried a dagger brought from Winterfell. , and quietly left the room.

In addition to the pure white high walls, the Eagle's Nest City has only mountains and endless void. A long and steep path passes through Long Sky Castle, Snow Mountain Castle and Dangerous Rock Castle, and is connected to the Moon Gate Castle at the bottom.

The path down the mountain was about three feet wide, and as soon as she got closer to Lady Catelyn, she heard the howling of the cold wind.

There were abysses on both sides of the road. The children in her heart gave her great courage, and Caitlin took the first step.

Second step... third step... Boundless fear gripped Caitlin tightly. She felt the void on both sides, and felt the black cyclone yawning around her.

The strong wind roared at Caitlin, pulling at her cloak and trying to drag her down the cliff. She trembled and dared not move forward.

At that moment, Caitlin was very conscious, and she knew that if she went forward, she would fall into the arms of the stranger.

Catelyn backed away, reassuring herself that the Starrs might be fearless, but the Tullys knew how to work around it.

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Caitlin was still frightened by the thought of last night's adventure. She paused and looked up at the hazy pale tower high in the sky, feeling dizzy.

Lady Catelyn closed her eyes for a while. The Red Keep had four levels of dungeons, and the Eagle's Nest was a natural dungeon.

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The sky turned white, dawn came, and the sun was like a bright pearl. Its light was warm and bright, covering the mountains with a layer of golden glow.

Caitlin looked down the mountain. Although she couldn't see the scenery below, she knew that there were verdant green forests and quiet villages, golden wheat fields and streams splashing across the sunlit streams.

Lysa Tully appeared on the balcony wrapped in a blue velvet robe trimmed with fox fur. Catelyn felt the strong gaze. When she looked up, she only saw her sister's disappearing back.

Lysa turned a blind eye to her, and given the chance...she wanted to have a big fight with her sister, and the lady sister of the Tully family would call her sister a stupid, fat trout without mercy!

Chest heaving, Caitlin took a deep breath and suppressed the anger rising in her heart.

Soon... there was another despair in her heart. Lady Catelyn knew that this was the Eagle's Nest, and she could do nothing. She could not go anywhere.

My children...Lady Catelyn closed her eyes...lost and exhausted, she threw herself into the arms of the gods.

She asked the blacksmith who was responsible for repairing the damage to give her lovely Bran attention and protection.

She implores the maiden to grant Arya and Sansa her courage and protect their innocence.

She prayed for justice from her Heavenly Father, for the strength to pursue justice and the wisdom to know justice.

She prayed to the warriors to make Robb strong and protect him safely through the battlefield.

She prayed to the old woman to guide her on the path she should take and not let her get lost in the darkness ahead.

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"You should wear more clothes, Kate."

The hoarse voice interrupted Caitlin's prayer. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she was already kneeling on the cold grass.

Looking at Petyr with a smile on his face, Caitlin's pupils narrowed and she said, "Why are you back so soon?"

Some time ago, Petyr left the Eyrie with Catelyn's personal letter. Normally, he is on his way to meet Robb (Chapter 199).

Petyr Baelish walked, spreading his hands.

His tone was a little helpless: "Our Sir Blackfish doesn't trust me, nor does he trust his niece's son. He directly stole my job to go south."

Mrs. Caitlin stood up and said, "My uncle?!"

Petyr paused in front of Catelyn and joked: "He is worried that I will lead your eldest son astray."

Shrugging, he added: "The Blood Gate Knight just left without caring. I finally found a more reliable new Blood Gate Knight."

This is really good news! Caitlin's eyes were shining with joy, the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, and her smile was like the dawn sun, warm and bright.

Looking at Kate at this time, Petyr couldn't help but be stunned. Her smile seemed to take him back to his childhood, and he couldn't help but want to get closer to her.

Petyr clenched his hands behind his back. He was no longer the impulsive boy from Riverrun. He told himself that he needed to take his time and approach her slowly.

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The corners of Petyr's lips curled up and he said, "Madam, you seem to be very happy that I am being embarrassed by Uncle Brynden. I can hear your gloating."

He pretended to be scared: "He is still so strong. I dare not refuse him, so I can only let him arrange it honestly."

Only then did Lady Catelyn realize that Petyr was very close to her. Her smile suddenly faded and she immediately took a step back.

Petyr's eyes flickered, his smile remained unchanged, and he seemed not to notice what Caitlin had just done.

Petyr raised the corners of his mouth and said, "I have another better news... Well, Uncle Brynden has good news about going south for me."

Better news? !

Caitlin seemed to have thought of something, her eyes trembled slightly, and she quickly asked: "What's the news?"

Under Mrs. Catelyn's expectant gaze, Petyr nodded slightly and said, "News from the two Miss Starks."

After Petyr finished speaking, Lady Catelyn took the initiative to approach. She grabbed Petyr and asked hurriedly: "Tell me, how are they?"

"This is the accurate information I found out with great difficulty..."

Petyr spread his hands and continued, "Can you at least reward me with a hug first?"

Caitlin's response was a cold voice: "Little...finger...head..."

Petyr immediately retracted his hand, coughed slightly in embarrassment, and said, "Sorry, I just..."

Catelyn glared at Petyr and repeated: "Little... finger... head..."    "Okay, okay."

Petyr shrugged and said, "Sansa and Arya have returned to Winterfell safely."

He smiled and continued: "This news is very reliable, I promise."

Hearing this, Mrs. Caitlin was stunned for a moment, then murmured: "Gods bless you..."

Not long after, crystal tears fell from the corners of Caitlin's eyes, and she cried with joy.

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Caitlin cried silently without moving, and her little finger's hoarse voice sounded: "If there is no hug, then I will ask for the reward like when I was a child..."

As he said that, Little Finger suddenly kissed Caitlin, lips touching lips.

Lady Catelyn's eyes suddenly widened and her pupils contracted. She was about to push Petyr away, but his body took a step back.

Petyr's smile at this time was like a boy who had just stolen candy: "It's still as sweet as before."

"you……"

Caitlin's voice was full of anger: "Don't let it happen again!"

After saying that, Caitlin left directly. On the way, she glanced at Lysa's balcony uneasily and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that it was empty.

Before she heard the news about her daughters, Caitlin would never have let Petyr offend her so easily. He knew her, and he knew that her heart was filled with joy at this time. He was no longer a clever young man. , he has become a cunning man.

As we walked, Caitlin smiled again... My children, I will find a way to be with you as soon as possible.

Caitlin's smile was gentle and charming, but this smile happened to be seen by Lysa who was standing behind the window.

…………

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That afternoon, Lysa's waiter came to Caitlin's room.

The waiter saluted: "Lady of Winterfell, Lady Lysa invites you to go to the hall."

Just in time... I have to ask my sister to let her go today!

Mrs. Caitlin tapped her chin: "Tell Lysa that I will be there in a moment."

Hearing this, Lysa's waiter did not leave. He said, "Mrs. Lysa ordered me to escort you to the hall."

Caitlin frowned slightly, feeling a little angry in her heart. Did her sister regard me as her prisoner? !

After looking at the respectful waiter, Caitlin chose to give in. This was just a small matter. Her children needed their mother's embrace, and that was the most important thing.

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Under the "escort" of the waiter, Lady Catelyn walked down the tower steps, crossed a bridge, and came to the exquisitely carved wooden door of the hall.

Two guards wearing sky-blue cloaks and holding spears stood outside the gate, one on the left and one on the right.

Lady Catelyn entered the hall, and as the door closed behind her she vaguely heard the voice of the waiter.

"While Lady Lysa is conversing with the Lady of Winterfell... no one is allowed to interrupt..."

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The hall of the Eagle's Nest City is lined with beams as slender as spears. The floor and walls are made of milky-white blue marble. Dots of lazy and pale sunlight shine in through the narrow arched window on the east wall.

Lady Catelyn walked on the blue silk carpet, the carpet drowned out the sound of footsteps, and the cold wind outside the window whistled lonely.

Caitlin discovered her sister, whom she hadn't seen for a "long time", and she was the only one in the entire hall. Lysa sat in a high-backed weirwood chair on a high platform, with a huge banner of House Arryn hanging behind her.

Lady Lysa was wearing a milky white velvet dress and a necklace of sapphires and moonstones. Her reddish-brown hair was tied into a thick braid, hanging down on her left shoulder.

Mrs. Caitlin paused in front of the high platform. She looked up and said directly: "Lysa, we need to have a good talk."

Lady Lysa, her powdered face flushed and fat, stared at Catelyn coldly.

Seeing that Lysa didn't respond, Caitlin said again: "Listen, I want to go back to the children."

After a pause, she raised her voice slightly: "Lesa, did you hear me?"

After a moment of silence, Lady Lysa suddenly said: "Petyr kissed you!"

She flaring her nostrils and said sharply: "Why did he do this?! He already has a wife who loves him with all her heart! It was you who seduced him, Caitlin!"

Caitlin frowned and said, "Lisa, it's not what you think. I..."

Lesa interrupted: "Go back to the child? Want to run away? Are you feeling guilty?"

Caitlin suppressed her irritation and explained: "Petyr took advantage of my distraction and secretly kissed me..."

Lysa once again interrupted Caitlin: "You take me for a fool? Do you? Do you? It seems that you do take me for a fool! Don't think that you can win Petyr with a lustful smile. Huanxin, he is mine! He is mine!"

She stood up suddenly: "You all want to steal him away from me, my father, my husband, and especially you. You used to love to kiss Petyr!"

She pointed her stubby finger at Catelyn who was standing below: "Catelyn, don't pretend to be innocent. For so many years in Riverrun, you have treated Petyr like a toy. His eyes teased his emotions."

There was a cry in her voice: "Poor Petyr... sleepless nights..."

Soon, she screamed again: "At the banquet that night, you and Petyr danced six dances in total, six! I can count them clearly! He wanted to kiss you, but you pushed him away. You still Laughing at him, he looks so hurt, my lungs are about to explode!"

Her expression was both sweet and proud: "Later he got himself drunk, and that night I went to his room and gave him...the comfort you can't give. I bled, but it was sweet pain. He said he loved Me, he said he only loved me, but he called me 'Kate'! After he said that, he fell asleep... Even so, I didn't leave before dawn. You are sorry for him, he and Brandon Smith for you Tucker's duel... You refused to give him a token, but I will give him my token, and I will give him everything..."

She said angrily: "Now, he is mine! Not Caitlin's! Not yours! Not yours! Not yours!"

Catelyn was furious and shouted: "That's enough! You stupid, fat trout! I didn't want Petyr! He's yours! Yours!"

Lysa's fat figure quickly walked down the stairs, her angry and twisted face appeared in front of Caitlin, and her breath was filled with a strong smell of wine.

Lysa's fat hand grabbed Caitlin's slender wrist and said: "Father said, I should thank the gods in the sky. A famous Duke like Jon Arryn is willing to marry a woman who has been raped, but in fact All he wants is father’s army. I have to marry Jon, otherwise my father will shut me out just like he did to his own brother Brynden!”

Caitlin said coldly: "That's enough! I'm not interested in hearing your love story! Let me leave, I don't want to stay here for a moment!"

(End of this chapter)